LOR Requirements for TY and Medicine Prelim Programs

[BigRedPremed]

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I'm applying to transition year and a few medicine prelim year programs. So far, I have 1 medicine letter and also my school's internal medicine chair/department letter. Is this going to be enough or will I need another letter?

 

[Radiculous]

I'm applying to transition year and a few medicine prelim year programs. So far, I have 1 medicine letter and also my school's internal medicine chair/department letter. Is this going to be enough or will I need another letter?

My understanding is that the only people who want to see the "departmental" form letter is prelim med. TY could care less, and only some prelims ask to see the departmental letter (e.g. stanford). i wouldn't use something as cookie-cutter / formulaic as a departmental letter unless i absolutely had to do so. If you have one solid medicine letter, i wouldn't sweat it. im going IM, departmental, EM, Rads for prelims; IM, EM, Rads, Rads for TY/Rads

 

[blackbird11384]

My understanding is that the only people who want to see the "departmental" form letter is prelim med. TY could care less, and only some prelims ask to see the departmental letter (e.g. stanford). i wouldn't use something as cookie-cutter / formulaic as a departmental letter unless i absolutely had to do so. If you have one solid medicine letter, i wouldn't sweat it. im going IM, departmental, EM, Rads for prelims; IM, EM, Rads, Rads for TY/Rads

I plan on applying to mostly prelim programs. What is this departmental form letter you speak of? For my rads programs I will have letters from an Outpt IM, Surgery, Rads and Rads. I thought these would be fine for any prelim programs? Should I seek out a departmental letter or an inpt internal med letter specifically for the prelim programs?

Also, do people use the same rads LOR for a transitional or prelim, or do they ask that their letter writer write a letter geared towards a transitional/prelim program?

 

[Radiculous]

I plan on applying to mostly prelim programs. What is this departmental form letter you speak of? For my rads programs I will have letters from an Outpt IM, Surgery, Rads and Rads. I thought these would be fine for any prelim programs? Should I seek out a departmental letter or an inpt internal med letter specifically for the prelim programs?

Also, do people use the same rads LOR for a transitional or prelim, or do they ask that their letter writer write a letter geared towards a transitional/prelim program?

a few prelim IM programs specifically request a chair or departmental letter by the chair of the IM department or a designee, typically the IM clerkship director. it's a requirement of all the categorical IM applicants, but some (like stanford) want to see it for the prelims, too. at most schools it is a form letter written by the IM clerkship director who usually doesn't know you from Adam, summarizing your performance on the rotations, with comments that already appear in the MSPE. so, in my opinion, it's totally useless. TYs don't want or need one. I'm sending the same four to TYs and Rads. the key is to have a couple strong clinical letters, preferably one from medicine, with someone who really knows you and can speak to your strengths.

 

[teal27]

I plan on sending the same letters to both. What do they even judge you on? you're there for one year, it's not much of an investment on their part either.

 

[blackbird11384]

a few prelim IM programs specifically request a chair or departmental letter by the chair of the IM department or a designee, typically the IM clerkship director. it's a requirement of all the categorical IM applicants, but some (like stanford) want to see it for the prelims, too. at most schools it is a form letter written by the IM clerkship director who usually doesn't know you from Adam, summarizing your performance on the rotations, with comments that already appear in the MSPE. so, in my opinion, it's totally useless. TYs don't want or need one. I'm sending the same four to TYs and Rads. the key is to have a couple strong clinical letters, preferably one from medicine, with someone who really knows you and can speak to your strengths.

Any way to find out which prelim programs want the departmental letter? Is it mentioned on eras?

 

[2012mdc]

Any way to find out which prelim programs what the departmental letter? Is it mentioned on eras?

I haven't seen it on ERAS. Only on program's websites.

It's a pain not just for prelims but for rads programs too. Some only want 3 letters while others you can have up to 4. Basically have to go to every program website and find out what they want

 

[meister]

Any idea if it matters that my IM department doesn't release the Chair letters until late September? About half of the prelim programs I applied to require the letter...

 

[Cochan]

Im slightly confused about the TY and prelim programs. Are these done at different institutions than where you would perform a rads redicency? Or do rads residency grant you entrance to that institutions TY/prelim program. It sucks that you have to match into a TY/prelim and then match rads. Why can't we kill two birds with one stone?